Jason Atherton and Compass celebrate National Apprenticeship Week

Jason Atherton is to demonstrate Pollen Street Social dishes with a team of apprentices to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, which starts today.

Atherton, who last year joined forces with Compass Group's executive dining division Restaurant Associates (RA), will work with apprentices from the caterer and Leeds City College to show 150 guests how to cook five of the dishes that will feature on his new restaurant's menu when it opens in March.

The one-off event, which aims to highlight the importance of apprenticeships in the catering industry will form part of a Culinary and Hospitality Forum run by RA and hosted by KPMG at its London headquarters on Thursday (10 February).

Commenting on his support for apprenticeships, Jason Atherton said: "We have seen a huge change in the British restaurant and catering industry over the last decade and we now have some amazing chefs producing outstanding food.

"To ensure our industry continues to thrive it is essential that we have new blood rising through the ranks and I believe apprenticeships play a key part in this."

Vicky Williams, Compass HR director for learning & development, added: "Our people are at the heart of Compass and central to our ethos is employing great people and providing them with real opportunities."

Compass Group's extensive apprenticeship programme currently employs nearly 1,000 apprentices throughout the company undertaking a variety of different roles, depending on their areas of interest and skills.

During National Apprenticeship Week, each member of the Compass executive team will also be shadowed by a Compass Academy apprentice and the following week 30 Academy students will be part of the catering team at the BRIT Awards, this year being held at the O2 Arena.

Jason Atherton joins forces with Restaurant Associates >>

Jason Atherton gets ready for solo opening >>

Compass Group sales continue to rise >>

Hospitality firms urged to offer apprenticeships to plug skills gap >>

By Janie Stamford

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